Khursheed, Qureshi one on resignation of ECP members

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday demanded the resignation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members.
PTI Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah here in which the issue of resignations of the ECP members came under discussion. Both had serious reservations about them and said that there were question marks about their credibility.
Though Syed Khursheed Shah lent his support to the PTI on the issue during a meeting with Shah Mehmood Qureshi, he sought some time to discuss it with the top PPP leaders for formulating a joint strategy with the PTI on the issue.
Later, talking to newsmen after the meeting with Syed Khursheed Shah, the PTI vice president said that during the meeting, there was unanimity on seeking resignations from the ECP members following the question marks raised about their credibility.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said during the meeting he showed to Syed Khursheed Shah the ECP’s reply to Imran Khan’s letter. He said the ECP was an independent institution and holding free, fair and transparent election was its responsibility. But when the institution became controversial and question marks were raised about its credibility, how anyone could expect a credible election. “The ECP’s moral authority is questionable as it is now controversial and how the people can expect credible elections of local governments,” he said.
Talking to newsmen separately, Syed Khursheed Shah said though there was a consensus on the issue of credibility of the ECP members yet he sought some time to discuss this issue with the party for formulating a joint strategy.
However, he did not agree with the PTI plan of staging a Dharna against the ECP saying that the issue could only be resolved through dialogue. “The situation in the country is not viable for Dhranas and all the issues should be resolved when we sit together,” he added.